Grading machine



Aug; 30, 1932. w. a. URSCHEL GRADING ucumn Filed Sept. 21. 1927 4 SheetsSheet 1 am ww mm NM 0, 51 w. E. URSCHEL GRADING CHINE Filed Sept. 21. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 ZJILZZmmZTZfiCk Z, ll,

Aug. 30, 1932. w. E. URSCHEL 1,374,391

GRADING uAcnma Filed Sept. 21, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 30, 1932 v UNITED STATES WILLIAM E. enemas. or vmnnaiso. 1mm

GRADING magma Application flledseptembei' 21, 1927. Serialflo. 220,873.

This invention relates to grading: means and more particularly to machines for gradin g articles as a consequence of their size, although certain features thereofmay be eml ployed with equal advantage for other purposes. i

It contemplates moreespeciallypthe pro vision of instrumentalities for grad ng articles together with means in associat on 1 therewith to effect the release thereof in the event the articles are wedged or otherwise im-.

properly disposed therein.

Vith the ever increasing demand for canned edibles especially commercially prepared fruits and vegetables, the canning industry has been confronted with the problem of grading the articles into predetermined sizes so as to enable the canning thereofin prescribed uniform sizes. Manyindividuals demand articles of specific size to satiate their choice and taste, while others are impressed with size uniformity as a guiding influence in purchasing articles of certain. brands.-

' Further, uniformityof size is an asset to the sale of articles in that itfacilitates the confinement thereof in suitable containers as well as presents an appetizing product which is of standard or prescribed quality recognized by the purchasing public. grading devices are not altogether satisfactorv in that they entail much labor, are inefficient and injurious to the articles graded therein.

One object of the present inventionis to simplify the construction and improve the operation of devices of the character mentioned. I i

Another object'is the provision of grading instruinentalities having means in association therewith to preclude articles to be improperly confined therein thereby insuring cfi'cctive grading Without injury to the articles.

Still another object is the provision of means in association with graders for the purpose of automatically releasing articles wedged or otherwise improperly confined therein. i i

50 A further object is the provision of releas- Figure 1.

Known disposed intermediate the supports l4. The

ing means periodically operable responsive to the movement of the grading means.

A stillfurther object is the provision of releasingbars intermediate graders to insure effective grading without injuring the articles; Still-afurtherobject isthe provision 1 battery. of graders of predetermined varying fineness to segregate articles into independently uniform sizes Without entailing the handling thereof.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In thedrawings: 1 Figure 1 is a side'view .in elevationof a machine embodying features of the present invention. Figure 2 is a front. View in elevation of the machine disclosed in Figure .1, certain partsthereof being broken awayto clarify the showing; i q

Figure 3 is a" rear view in elevation of the machine disclosed in Figure 1. a

Figure-4 isfa diagrammatic view of a battery of graders of the type disclosed in.

' Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of grading instrumentalities embodying the features of the presentjinvention. V

y Figure .6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line VI VI of Figure 5.

. their operative position. i

9 is a plan view of. a frame employed to sustain the grading means.

Figure .10 is a fragmentary perspective view of thegrader sustaining means;

V The structure selected for illustration comprises a frame 10, in this instance constituting spaced standards 11 and 12 which serve to supportt-he grading means to be hereinafter described. Each of the standards 11 and 12 have an arcuate member 13 rigidly arcuate member 13 of the standard 12 is of circular configuration and terminates in flanges 15 disposed in the horizontal diametrical plane. Side boards are disposed in contiguous relation to define a suitable bin 16 for receivin and conveying the graded articles througi the open bottom thereof (Figure 3), the bin 16 being supported by a series of cross members 17 and 17 in this.

instance four, which are bolted or otherwise secured to the standards 11and' 12 by means of suitable fasteners 18 to bridge the space therebetween, thereby reinforcing and increasing the rigidity of the frame 10.

Parallel disposed shafts 19 and 20 are journaled in the frame 10 in suitable bearings carried by each ofthe standards 11 and 12, the shafts 19 and 20 being carriedby the frame on either side thereof to enable the disposition of axially aligned pairs of rollers 21 and 22 on the shafts 19 and 20, respectively, in proximity to the extremities thereof adjacent to the standards 11' and 12. As shown, the rollers 21 and 22 are eachprovided with .3 a hub 23 carrying a pin 24 diametrically therethrough to secure the roller to the shafts 19 and 20 for movement in unison therewith. The rollers 21 and 22, in this instance four, serve to sustain circular bands 25 and 26 which have peripheral flanges 27 integrally or otherwise associated therewith, the bands being in frictional contact with the rollers 21 and 22 for relative rotary movement there'- with; The confronting faces of the periph- 5 eral flanges 27 have brackets 28 (Figures 3 and 10) secured thereto in any appropriate manner in proximity to the central orifice thereof defined by the bands 25 and 26 constituting an integral part thereof. The

brackets 28 are provided with divergent arms 29 and 30 which possess apertures 31 to enable the securing of supports 32 which span the space intermediate the confronting surfaces of the flanges 27. It will be observed that the surfaces of the flanges 27 are, in this instance, provided with six uniformly spaced aligned brackets 28 to enable the secural of twelve supporting bars 32 thereto, thereby serving to sustain the grading means thereon in a manner to be hereinafter described.

' vided with serrated edges in this instance constituting arcuate notches 35 presenting spaced projections 36 'therebetween. It will be understood that the type or form of serrations 35 may be varied through a wide range in that such depends largely 'upon the articles to be graded as well as the size desired for any particular purpose.

The introduction of articles within the tumbler of grader bed will cause the prescribed sizes thereof of less magnitude than the notches 35 to fall therethrough for reception therebelow in a suitable container (not shown) provided for that purpose. Articles of somewhat greater size than the serrations or notches in the grader plates 33, will doubtless become wedged therein as a consequence of the impelling centrifugal force resulting from the rotation of the tumbler. Obviously, the wedged articles not only are apt to be injured, but also such condition precludes further grading which seriously impairs the efficiency of the machine and quality of the graded articles.

As a consequence thereof, releasing bars 37 are interposed between the grading bars 33 in any selective spaced relation therewith depending on'the size of the article to be graded, the releasing bars 37 being rotatively carried by the supporting bars 32 owing to the axialstud shafts 38 associated with the extremities thereof. The releasing bars 37 are preferably though not essentially of elliptical cross section (Figure 6) so that the rotation or oscillation thereof through an arc of 90 will vary the space existing between the grader bars 33 and the release bars 37. The disposition of the major axis of the release bars 37 normal to the plane of the grader bars 33 (Figure 8) will materially increase the size of grading area, thereby releasing whatever articles that may be wedged or otherwise improperly confined therein.

It is desirable that these release bars be rendered operable only at a time when the articles are not sustained thereby in that the tumbler or grader bed is only partially filled Wit-h the articles to be graded. Thus it will be apparent that the most opportune time to release the'bars would be in an elevated position as a' result of being rotated along the upper horizontal tagential plane.

The release bars 37 are rendered operable at this predetermined position responsive to the rotation of the tumbler defined by the grading instrumentalities 33, this being accomplished by fixing crank arms 39 to the stud shafts 38 which project beyond one of the confronting supports 32. The crank arms are keyed or otherwise secured to the stud shafts by means of pins 40 in the usual manner. The other extremities of the crank arm 39 are provided with studs 41 which project through a cam bar 42 in which the stud 41 is rotatively journaled. It will be observed that the stud 41 is provided with a head 43 to preclude the removal thereof from the cam bar 42 so that reciprocal movement of the latter will tend to oscillate the cranl: arms 39 which impart a corresponding movement to the releasing bars 37.

menace Each of the grader bar series are provided with a cam baa-r42 disposed parallel to the ties of the cam bar 42 in the path of a sub stantial circular cam 46" received therebetween. The-cam 46 terminates in horizontally disposed flanges 47 which correspond with and confront the-flanges '15 for secural thereto by means of suitable fasteners such as the carriage bolts 48. It will be understood that thecam 46' isof such configuration as to efiect movementof the cam bars 42 upon reaching-their extreme upward position responsive to the rotation of the grading bed,

thereby oscillating the, release bars 37 so that the major axes thereof are disposed normal to the plane of the grader plates 33 to *mate rially increase thegrading space for the ar. pose of releasing whatever articles may be wedged therein. 7 I

The'articles released will thence fall within the grading bed or tumbler for passage therefrom owing to the fact that they necessaril}; must be of such size which will preelude passage thereof between the notches 35 provided in the graders 33. The release bars are then returned to their normal operative position as the bed or tumbler is further rotated just prior to sustaining the articles contained therein owing to its movement to a lower arcuate position whereon the articles are disposed by the action of gravity.

In order to facilitate the introduction of the articles within the'grader bed or tumbler defined by the alternate disposition of grading bars33 and releasing bars 37, a spout 50 is secured to the standard 11 so as to effect the passage of the articles Within the tumbler or grader bed upon being received thereon in any suitable manner. Thence the articles will pass through the grader which has the cylindrical sustaining plane thereof slightly inclined so that the articles will gradually passtherethrou-gh responsive to rotation of the grader bed. Thus articles which are of such size as. to preclude their passage through the grader bars will gradually travel down the slight incline defined by the grader bed to be eventually discharged from the machine. To facilitate such discharge, a spout 51 is provided at the end of the grader bed remote from the charging spout 50 to effect guided removal of the arti- 1 cles from the tumbler.

Rotation is imparted to the end bands 25 and 26 constituting a portion of the grader bed or tumbler bv harnessing suitable power to a pulley 52 in the usual-manner,the pulley 52 being carried by a shaft53 journaled in configuration and size of the'notches 35 pro t;

aligned bearings 54 and 55secured tothe standard'l l. One extremityof shaft 53 projects beyond the bearing 55 to carry a bevel gear 56 which meshes with a corresponding bevelgear 57 carried by the extremity of the Shaft '19 disposed normally or the shaft 53PM Theshaft 53 serves as the driver which imparts rotation to the shaft19 having the rollers 21 secured thereto for movement therewith.

Another bevel gear 58 is secured to the shaft 53 near the. other extremity thereof for meshing engagement with a bevel gear 59 carried by the extremity'of the shaft 120.

thereby imparting corresponding movement 2 to the shaft 20, which has the rollers 22 sen cured thereto. The rollers21 :and 22 on their respective shafts 19 and 20,respectively, frictionally contact with the peripheral flange27 carried by the bands 25 and26to 111* V impart rotation thereto for the purpose "of tumbling the articles within the grader bed in an effortto effect the separation thereof into predetermined sizes dependent upon "the vided in the grader bars 33.

It is worthy of note that various types and sizes of articles may be graded, this requiring only a' modification in the grader bars 33 which may be provided with serrations 35 of any configuration corresponding with the shape and size of the articles desired to be graded. As an illustration, the grader bars 33' (Figure 7) may be provided with substantial'ly circular notches 35 alternating to define a substantially circular grading Si space to conform in shape with any-article such as peas, peaches, and the like,which might be advantageously graded with such an arrangement.

ins

It is possible to grade articles intonumer- 1 ous sizes without entailing the repeated handling thereof, this being accomplished by resorting to a battery of graders constructed in accordance with the invention described herein. The graders of varying mesh or coarseness are arranged in series in commumw cation with a charging spout or hopper 63 (Figure 4) which initially supplies a grader 64 with the articles through a suitable passage or conduit 65. The grader 64 is prefer- 1 therefrom are fed, into a conduit 7 3 which.

may communicate with another seriesof graders .(not shown) until all of the articles are graded into prescribed sizes.

The articles rejected by the initial grader 64 are carried through a conduit. 74 to. a grader "75 which further separates the articles so as to discharge those passing through .the graderbed to any receptacle by virtue of the discharge spout 7 6 provided in connection therewith. From thence the rejected articlespassthrough a conduit 77 into another grader 78 for further segregation in 5 the manner described above. This arrangement affords means for grading articles into prescribed sizes without entailing repeated handling ormanipulation thereof until the final segregation 'is obtained.

With the arrangement of the parts above described it will be apparent that novel grading means have been provided which eifectively segregate articles into various prescribed sizes without impairing the shape or 8! 'occasioning injuryathereof owing to the periodically operable releasing means which precludes damage and insures effective operation.

Various changes may be made in the en bodiment of the invention herein specifically described without departing from or sacri- :ficing any of the advantages thereof as defined in the appended claims.

' I claim:

1. The combination with a frameLOf an article confining member rotatively mounted thereon, and having constantly parallel members movable toward and away from one another to provide grading apertures ar- JGO ranged transversely of the axis of rotation of the article confining member and means for rotatingsaid member relatively to said frame.

2. The combination with a frame, of a member rotatively mounted on said frame, a

, 85 series of serrated plates each of a fractional portion of the circumference of said rotatable member on said member to define apertures extending transversely thereof and of predetermined size, and means for rotating said 1 member relatively to said frame.

3. The combination with a frame, of a member rotatively mounted on said frame, serratedplates on said member and arranged transversely of the axis-of rotation of said ta. frame, said plates defining apertures of predetermined size, releasing bars associated with said plates, and means for periodically actuating said bars responsive to the rotation ofsaid member to effect the release of articles lodged in the apertures.

4. The combination with a frame, of a member rotatively mounted on said frame, serrated plates of a length comprising a fraction of said member arranged in aligned series onsaid member defining apertures extending transversely thereof and of predetermined size, means for rotating said member relatively to said frame, and means for periodicallyefiecting therelease of articles associated with said plates.

5. The combination with a frame, of a member movably associated therewith, constantly parallel movable article confining .platesrmounted on said member transversely tures transverse of such axis of rotation and constituting article grading means, means for rotating said member, and means for periodically efiecting a variation in said plates to release articles lodged therebetween.

- 7. The combination with a frame, of a member movably associated therewith, means for rotating said member relatively to said frame, article grading means comprising constantly parallel elements movably associated with said member and arranged transversely of the axis of the rotation of said members and providing apertures also arranged transversely of such axis, and means operatively connected with said elements and member to periodically effect the movement of said elements responsive to the movement of said member, thereby releasing articles lodged in said grading means.

8. The combination with a frame, of a member movably associated therewith, means for rotating said member relatively to said frame, constantly parallel article grading elements movably associated with said member and arranged transversely of the axis of the rotation of said member and providing openings also arranged transversely of such axis, and means operatively connected with said grading elements and member to periodically effect the movement of said grading elements responsive to the movement of said member thereby releasing articles lodged in said grading elements, and means communicating with the interior of said'member to guide the discharge of the articles rejected by the grading elements.

9. The combination with a frame, of a member movably associated therewith, means for rotating said member relatively to said frame, article grading means including plates pivotally mounted onsaid member to define a cylindrical tumbler, means for rotating said tumbler relatively tosaid frame, and cooperating means on said plates and member to effect periodical pivotal movement thereof to release articles lodged in said grading means.

10. The combination with a frame, of a member movably associated therewith, means for rotating said member relatively to said frame, article grading means including plates pivotally mounted on said memher to define a cylindrical tumbler, means for rotating said tumbler relatively to said frame, a cam on said member, means on said plates cooperating with said cam to periodically pivot said plates for releasing articles lodged in said grading means, and means communicating with the interior of said tumbler to guide the discharge of the articles rejected by said grading means.

11. The combination with a frame, of a member movably associated therewith, means for rotating said member relatively to said frame, article grading means, said grading means comprising plates having serrated edges arranged transversely of the axis of rotation of said member, releasing bars pivotally associated with said member intermediate said plates, and cam means for imparting movement to said bars at predetermined periods to effect the dislodgement of articles from said plates.

12. The combination with a frame, of a member movably associated therewith, means for rotating said member relatively to said frame, article grading means, said grading means comprising plates having serrated edges, releasing bars pivotally associated with said member intermediate said plates, means for rotating said member to effect the tumbling of articles in association with said plates, rollers associated with said bars and a cam fixed tosaid member in the path of said rollers to pivot said bars for releasing articles wedged in said grading means responsive to the rotation of said member.

13. The combination with a frame, of a member mounted thereon, means for rotating said'member on said frame, a plurality of parallel disposed supports fixed to said member, grading plates carried by said supports to define a tubular article tumbler, release bars disposed intermediate said plates, and cooperating means on said bars and member to periodically oscillate the bars to release the articles wedged in said plates responsive to the rotation of said member.

14. The combination with a frame, of a member'mounted thereon, means for rotating said member on said frame a lurality of parallel disposed supports fixe to said member, grading'plates carried by'said supports to define a tubular article tumbler, release bars disposed intermediate said plates, rollers car'riedby said bars, and a cam fixed to said member in the path of said rollers to periodically oscillate said bars. 7

15. The combination with a frame, ofa member mounted thereon, means for rotating said member on said frame, a plurality of parallel disposed supports fixed to said. member, grading plates carried by said support-s to define a tubular article tumbler, release bars disposed intermediate said plates, rollers carried by said bars, and a cam fixed to said member in the path of said rollers to periodically oscillate said bars, said bars being of elliptical cross-section to enable a variation in said grading means effective to release the articles therefrom with the oscillation thereof. v

16. The combination with a frame, of spaced circular end plates, means bridging said end plates in rigid relation thereto, rotative bearings on said frame to sustain and impart rotation to said end plates, a series of serrated plates associated with said bridging means todefine a grading tumbler, and means for releasing said grading plates in a. predetermined rotative position of said tumbler.

17. The combination with a frame, of spaced circular end plates, means bridging said end plates in ri id relation thereto, rotative bearin son said frame to sustain and impart rotation to said end plates, a series of serrated plates associated with and extending from one to the next of said bridging means to define a grading tumbler, means for releasing said grading plates in a predetermined rotative position of said tumbler, and means for guiding the removal of the articles rejected by said grading plates. i

18. The combination with a frame, of an article confining member rotatively mounted thereon and having grading instrumentalities comprising constantly parallel members movable toward and away from one another arranged transversely of the axis, of rotation of said confining member, and means for rotating said member relatively to said frame. 7 WILLIAM E. URSCHEL. 

